BY AKINWALE ABOLUWADE, IBADAN
The General Manager of the Shooting Star Football Club of Ibadan, Alhaji Rasheed Balogun, has been reported dead after weeks of illness.
It was learnt that Balogun died on Thursday evening on his sick bed.
Rotimi Alli, Chairman, Ibadan Football Association, was said to have broken the news of his death on the 3SC WhatsApp platform.
“Innalilai wa Innalilai rajiun. We lost 3SC General Manager few minutes ago. May the soul of our beloved Mr Rasheed Balogun rest in peace and may Almighty Allah accept his soul into Aljanah,” Alli wrote.
Late Balogun was appointed as the General Manager of Shooting Stars Sports Club, in 2014 by the Oyo State Government.
He had worked with Dolphins of Port Harcourt as Team Manager and left Sunshine Stars in the same capacity before being called upon by the state government to help salvage the 3SC that got demoted from the top flight the previous season.
A team member, while announcing Balogun’s demise on the facebook page wrote, “So sad. He fought but he lost out. We submit to the will of God. We lost our General Manager, Rasheed Balogun, this evening.
R.I.P boss.”
Meanwhile, the management, coaching crew, staff and players of Kwara United had condoled with the Shooting Stars Football Club of Ibadan over the demise of their GM
Kwara United described Rasheed Balogun as a great football guru and prayed to God to give his family, friends and associates the fortitude to bear the painful loss.
“We are sad hearing about the death of Shooting Stars’ General Manager Balogun which came as a painful one to us and we pray that God should forgive him and grant him eternal rest,” Kwara United said in a statement by its Media Team.
Shooting Stars of Ibadan will be hosting Kwara United on Sunday in the NPFL match-day 8 clash.
The Oluyole Warriors are occupying 19th position on the NPFL table, while Kwara United occupy 5th after seven round of matches played.
